How to Avoid Falls:

Not everyone has a fear of heights but it’s safe to say almost everyone is afraid of falling. There are few things scarier than falling from a ladder or any elevated area to the cold hard ground. Though we likely know to be cautious when climbing a ladder, few of us know the ramifications of injuries that result from ladders. When starting your DIY home renovation projects, be sure to take proper precautions to help you avoid falls from ladders or other heights, bruises, broken bones, and other injuries.

•  When working with electricity, always opt for a wooden ladder using a metal ladder when working on electrical equipment can lead to electrocution and injuries from falling.

• For ladder safety, prevention is your best form of defense– check your ladder for broken or loose joints.

• Avoid climbing higher than the second rung on a stepladder and the third rung for an extension ladder.

• Be sure to lock the center brace when using an A-frame ladder.

• Always wear protective eyewear to keep debris from reaching your eyes. Even a small piece of debris can leave you unbalanced at the top of a ladder and at risk for a fall.

• Be sure to confirm the weight capacity of your ladder before you begin your project.

• Be sure the ladder you’re using is the right height for the job so as to avoid standing on the top rungs of the ladder.

• Always opt for a standalone ladder. If you must use one that leans on a surface, be sure it’s placed against a solid, stable structure,and that its footing is stable and on a non-slip surface.

• Always place your ladder on even ground so it won't lose it’s footing.

• Stand on the lowest-level rung possible for the task.

• Wear slip-resistant shoes when working on any high surface, especially if it’s wet, or if it’s angled.

• If possible, always work on a dry surface. Even if the roof is flat and you’re wearing non slip shoes, you put yourself at risk of slipping and falling if you’re working on a slick surface.

• Always check the structural integrity before stepping on to an elevated surface. A surface that is weak or rotted, could collapse under your weight.

How to Avoid Burns:

If you’re working anywhere near wires, it’s critical to ensure your safety. Electrical burns and chemical burns can be very serious injuries. Hire a licensed electrician for any project that involves any amount of electrical work outside of changing a lightbulb and be sure to consult with a demolition expert before you break ground. Also be sure to read all the labeling for any chemicals you may be using, never mix chemicals, and properly store them or dispose of them once you are finished. Common household chemicals like ammonia, bleach, pesticides, and herbicides all contain toxic substances that can poison people and pets. According to the National Safety Council poisoning accounts for 2.2 percent of injury-related emergency department visits. 

• Never take on electrical work yourself. Hire a professional.

• ALWAYS turn off the electricity in your home if you are going to be working near wires.

• Always wear non-flammable and non conductive clothing when working with or near wires. Be sure to remove any jewelry as well(gold is very conductive).

• Be sure you’re working with the proper tools and avoid any instruments that could conduct electricity and lead to a shock (tools without rubber grips), 

• Remove any materials in your work space that could ignite from a spark.

• Only use chemicals exactly as directed by the manufacturer, including the specified quantities.

• Never mix chemicals.

• Use splash proof containers when using chemicals

• Wear long sleeves, long pants,closed toe shoes, and protective gear to avoid chemical exposure to skin.

• Keep your workspace well-ventilated, and never near open flames or heat sources.

• Store chemicals that aren’t in use in their original containers(to keep manufacturing directions)

• Store chemicals out of reach of children and pets, and in a temperature-controlled environment.

How to Avoid Injuries from Power Tools

Injury from power tools is a top reason people end up in the ER when taking on home renovation projects themselves. Power tools are half of the fun of doing renovations and can save you time and money on projects but they are no laughing matter. Power tools can be extremely dangerous, and anyone who wields a power tool should do so with caution.

• Always wear the proper safety gear, including safety glasses, closed toed shoes, properly fitting clothes, and gloves when necessary.

• Be sure to keep your work area clean and well lit. 

• Check with the manual to ensure you are properly using the power tools.

• Do not use power tools when not necessary to complete a project. 

How to Avoid Injuries from Heavy Objects

With any home renovation or improvement project, there’s likely to be a lot of heavy lifting. For example, pruning a tree can be a dangerous business—and not just because of ladders and power tools. When you're working with larger branches, falling tree limbs are a real danger. Similarly,other home improvement and renovation projects can lead to injuries from heavy objects. To decrease your chance of being hit, strained, or hurt in any other way, try not to stand directly underneath items that may drop, and have multiple eyes on the job who can warn you if things begin to fall. It’s easy to avoid injuries from heavy objects if you practice basic safety skills:

• Keep a clean and lit work environment. Always properly store tools and materials at the end of each day.

• Properly secure all heavy portable equipment both when in use and when it’s not in use. 

• Always place heavy portable objects easily accessible and within reach.

• Use a dolly or cart when transporting objects that are over-sized or too heavy for you to lift and hold comfortably. 

• Do not leave tools or heavy objects unattended, whether they’re in use or not. 

• Always lift with your legs and not your arms or back, you may strain yourself.

• If you are unable to lift a heavy object, hire someone who can.

How to Avoid Injuries from Sharp Objects

Home renovations mean working with lots of sharp objects, from nails, to motorized blades, to cutting knives, even the dullest blade can cause severe injury. The number one injury associated with home improvement are cuts. You can’t imagine how many people visit the ER each year because they cut their fingers off using a power tool. The ones with sharp blade injuries are lucky, and are likely going to have a clean cut, dull blades can cause more damage due to the jaggedness of their cuts. Be sure to practice proper safety precautions to avoid injuries from sharp objects.

• make sure all blades and knives are sharpened, cleaned, and properly oiled well before you use them.

• Always cut away from the body. And move blades slowly across the surface.

• Be sure to have antibiotic cream close by, as well as bandages.

• Wear thick, protective gloves and work boots, as well as properly fitted clothing.

• Always wear safety glasses.

• Only insert nails and screws into materials you are not holding 

• Never hold a material on your body or close to your person when you’re driving nails into the object. Whether you’re using a power gun or a hammer, a nail can go straight through the material and pierce your skin.

• Do not remove protective shields and barriers from power saws.